By Nancy Beal

Several years ago, a small plot of shorefront in Jonesport behind the post office was donated to the town by the heirs of Charlie Stevens. Cynthia Lee, who represents the group, hoped that the small plot would one day become a memorial park where townspeople could look out on the water and reflect on the sacrifices that their forerunners had made to secure freedom for the rural seaside town and the rest of the country. If the plans of a recently created Veterans Memorial Committee come to fruition, that park, and a small community garden, may become a reality before year’s end.

At their 2022 annual town meeting, Jonesporters voted to fund the project by borrowing $25,000 from the town surplus account—money which would be paid back, with interest, in five installments. The first installment of $5,750 was approved last March. Since that time, a committee of volunteers has been meeting monthly and discussing materials, design, and language for the various components of the memorial. At a meeting this week, they plan to finalize much of their plans and begin ordering the various components.

The plot of land (Map 14, Lot 89) is located on the south side of High Street between a spot near the corner of Stevens Street and the lane running toward Richardson Cemetery. (The cemetery is accessed by a different lane running from Main Street and transecting High Street.) From High Street, the lot slopes southerly toward Moosabec Reach to a steep bank.

A concept drawing presented at a meeting last March depicts a six-by-five-foot monument, eight inches thick, as the centerpiece of the memorial. South of that toward the water is a ten-by-six-foot sandy plot where memorial stones purchased by loved ones will be set. Six smaller monuments depicting the six branches of the service sit south of that fixture, and south of that, three flag poles that, committee members said, will fly the United States flag, the POW flag, and the Maine state flag. Not pictured but hoped for were benches—both purchased and donated--for visitors to sit on.

At this week’s meeting, members plan to finalize their choices for patriotic messages to be etched on the big stone. A dozen phrases for both back and front were suggested, including various dedications for the front and “We will always remember,” “Their sacrifice endures,” and others for the back, but members were encouraged to bring more.

Al Grignon chaired the March meeting, and Cynthia Beauvais took notes. Other members of the committee include Harry Fish, Ike Hubbard, Aaron Dennis, Joyce Dvorak, and Diane Smith.

The group hoping to establish a community garden came together last week (April 2), reviewed the Veterans Memorial Committee plans, and decided to put their gardening plans for the park on hold until the memorial plans are firm and construction is complete. In the meantime, they agreed to concentrate on planting around the library, where last fall, the rhododendrons that had damaged the windows and sides of the building were cut back to allow repairs to be done.